The Climate Council is inviting members of the Australian scientific community to sign the below open letter in support of the Environment Council of Central Queensland’s legal intervention.
The challenge focuses on how the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) – Australia’s main environmental law – considers the impact of fossil fuel projects. To date, when considering new coal and gas projects, federal environment ministers do not consider the impacts of emissions and climate change on ‘matters of national environmental significance.’ All coal and gas projects harm our world heritage areas, precious species and vital natural resources.
It is no longer tenable for the Minister to simply ignore the damage these projects do.
The case could halt the progress of a number of existing coal and gas projects and possibly put a stop to future ones.
To add your name, please complete this form. For any questions please contact Nathan Hart – nathan.hart@climatecouncil.org.au
Please note: we’re currently only accepting signatories from those working within the Australian scientific community.
Dear Minister Plibersek,
Australian scientists call on our Federal Environment Minister to confront and respond to our shared climate reality by heeding the irrefutable scientific evidence and warnings when assessing coal and gas projects.
As scientists, we not only study but have a deep connection with and affection for Australia’s living wonders. Our research is founded on expert analysis, data and rigorous examination of the facts. We ask that leader’s decisions are likewise embedded in science.
In support of the Environment Council of Central Queensland’s legal intervention to protect Australia’s living wonders from climate damage, we are calling on the Australian Government to heed the scientific evidence on climate change when considering how proposals for new coal and gas projects will harm thousands of matters of national environmental significance (MNES) protected under Part 3 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
According to the UN IPCC, the science is unequivocal. From megafires to ocean heatwaves and acidification, extensive coral bleaching, drought, and extreme rainfall and flooding events, we are now seeing and suffering through the scientifically predicted impacts of climate change across the country. These changes are compounding existing threats and creating new threats to matters of national environmental significance.
Every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions and fraction of a degree of warming is a blow to the health of our ecosystems and economy. Any new coal or gas project will dangerously worsen climate change, which is already having major impacts for many natural systems, with some experiencing, or at risk of, irreversible change.
The science is clear, extracting fossil fuels is detrimental to Indigenous health and wellbeing. Fossil fuel exploitation increases local risks such as air, water, and land pollution. Scarring of the land and loss of access to Country is a direct threat to spiritual and cultural wellbeing, challenging the sustainability of cultures and communities living on their traditional lands. Indigenous presence on Country is essential for conducting Indigenous science based land management practice that reverse the impacts of climate change.
At risk are lives, livelihoods and the ecosystems that we depend on. Some of our most precious icons may be lost: the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu, the Tarkine and Otways, giant kelp forests and the living cultural heritage of First Nations people.
Iconic and extraordinary species including koalas, green turtles, bilbies, dugongs, platypuses, Tasmanian devils and the Wollemi pine, are all under threat and we’ve documented the extinction of others. The species, ecosystems, and cultural heritage protected under the EPBC Act are all damaged when projects that accelerate climate change are approved.
We, as pre-eminent scientists named below, are jointly calling on the Environment Minister to accept our shared climate reality, heed the science and ensure all environmental assessments of new gas and coal projects are responsible and evidence-based, and include scope 3 emissions from all projects.
The fate of Australia’s living wonders – and all of the unique animals, plants, ecosystems and places we love – depends on it.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Tim Flannery – Chief Councillor, Climate Council of Australia
Professor Euan Ritchie – Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
Professor Anne Poelina – Nulungu Institute Research, University of Notre Dame, WA
Professor Gretta Pecl – Professor of Climate Change Ecology, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, and Director, Centre for Marine Socioecology at the University of Tasmania
Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg – ARC Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland
Professor Sharon Robinson – Professor of Climate Change Biology and Executive Director Global Challenges Program, University of Wollongong
Professor Brendan Wintle – Professor of Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, University of Melbourne
Professor Jodie Rummer – Professor of Marine Biology in the College of Science and Engineering and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University
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